Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer In Charleston, SC

Nursing home and assisted living residents are among the most vulnerable. Often, they have Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another condition that forces them to rely on help from others. And all too often, those tasked with their care act in neglectful, abusive, and inappropriate ways. We recommend knowing the signs of abuse, and carefully watching for them in your aging loved one. If you do spot signs of nursing home abuse, report it as soon as possible.

If you believe your aging family member was the victim of elder abuse or neglect, a nursing home abuse lawyer in Charleston, SC from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can review your claim for free. We may be able to help you file a case against the facility, holding the administrators liable for your loved one’s suffering. Call us today at 843-628-0100 for your free consultation.

Damages Available in a Charleston Nursing Home Abuse Case

Several factors will determine the damages available to a senior if we can prove they suffered from abuse in a Charleston, SC long-term care facility. The type of abuse, the severity of any injuries, and other specific circumstances are key to not only the value of the case but also to the types of damages available.

Your loved one may or may not qualify to collect all these types of damages, depending on their individual situation. However, they should be eligible for at least some of these damages if we can prove they suffered abuse:

Medical care and related expenses, usually from neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse

Get proper doctor care

The cost of counseling, if necessary

Refunds of lost funds

Pain and suffering damages

Mental anguish

Other emotional losses

Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Charleston, SC

There are several types of abuse long-term care facility residents may experience. Understanding these types and knowing what to look for is important to keep your loved one safe. The five types of elder abuse include:

Neglect

Most caregivers do not intentionally neglect patients, but this type of abuse can still leave lasting scars and even lead to death. It may include failing to:

Give a patient necessary medication

Regularly move a bedridden resident

Assist patients with mobility issues

Bathe patients who require assistance with routine care

Chronic neglect may cause:

Bed sores

Infections

Missed doses of medication

Lack of proper hygiene

Lack of routine care

Some of the most common reasons neglect occurs include:

Understaffing and/or overcrowding

Using unlicensed staff to do tasks normally handled by nurses

Staff members who fail to provide necessary care

Lack of supervision and oversight in the facility

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is often the first type of abuse people think about when discussing nursing home abuse. It can cause bruising and psychological trauma, as well as more significant injuries. In addition to hitting, shoving, and other violent acts, physical abuse can also include actions such as restraining a resident when it is not necessary.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can be one of the most difficult types of abuse to identify. It may include:

Making threats

Bullying

Humiliation

Harassment

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse, unfortunately, occurs all too frequently at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. It may include:

Inappropriate comments

Unwanted sexual activity

Unnecessary nudity

Sexual assault

Rape

It is important to note that sexual abuse often occurs alongside emotional abuse, and the abuser may threaten the victim to remain silent.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse of a nursing home resident might include:

Theft of cash, valuables, credit cards, or checks

Gaining access to the senior’s financial accounts, either through coercion or taking advantage of the resident’s vulnerable mental state

Billing for services the senior does not need or never receives

Report Suspected Nursing Home Abuse in Charleston, SC

We encourage you to take action as soon as possible if you suspect your family member or another nursing home resident is in danger. The steps you should take depend on the circumstances, but we recommend giving us a call after you ensure everyone is safe.

If You Believe There Is Immediate Danger

If you believe a senior is in immediate danger from neglect or abuse in a Charleston nursing home, do not hesitate to call 911. Local police and paramedics will respond and provide the best option for getting your loved one or another nursing home resident the help they need as quickly as possible.

When the police respond to an elder abuse call, this will create a report in the system and provide documentation for a future court case if necessary. While the police will reach out to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control about the potential abuse, we usually tell our clients to file their own complaint as well.

If You Suspect Abuse But Your Loved One Is Not in Immediate Danger

File a complaint with the nursing home facility and keep a copy.

In addition, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control investigates all nursing home abuse allegations. You can file a report to trigger an investigation by contacting the agency through its website.

We also recommend looking for new places to move your loved one to during this time.

Call Us to Review Your Nursing Home Abuse Case

We offer free case reviews for the families of nursing home abuse victims. We can evaluate your loved one’s circumstances and provide legal advice about the strength of your case against the long-term care facility and its administration. If we believe your family member has a claim against the nursing home, we will handle your situation and fight to try to recover compensation on their behalf.

Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Charleston, SC

The personal injury lawyers from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers will review your loved one’s case for free and may be able to help you hold their abuser liable for their expenses, losses, and pain and suffering.

DISCLAIMER: Information on this website is not legal advice. Reviewing the information on this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with the law firm. Nothing presented on this website reflects an endorsement by the U.S. Government or any branch of the military. Cases are handled by a lawyer at George Sink, P.A., who primarily practices out of our offices in Greenville at 715 Congaree Rd, Columbia at 1440 Broad River Rd, Myrtle Beach at 400 N. Kings Hwy, Suite A, Anderson at 128 N. Main St, Augusta at 3523 Walton Way Ext, Savannah at 6001 Chatham Center Dr #190, or our principal office in North Charleston at 7011 Rivers Ave, SC. The attorney, investigator, or a representative of the firm may visit you anywhere in SC or GA for initial investigations in many circumstances. Patrick Scarlett licensed in GA & SC. George Sink, Sr licensed in SC. No fee if no recovery. Fees computed before deducting expenses from recovery. "We don’t get paid until you get paid” or similar language refers only to fees charged by the attorney. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. Contingent attorneys' fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Contingent fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Verdicts, awards, and total recoveries presented reflect gross numbers, before attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses are deducted.

*No fee if no recovery. Fees computed before deducting expenses from recovery. "We don’t get paid until you get paid” or similar language refers only to fees charged by the attorney. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. Contingent attorneys' fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Contingent fees are not permitted in all types of cases.

[1] Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Verdicts, awards, and total recoveries presented reflect gross numbers, before attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses are deducted.

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